Key Takeaways:
- The GMAT Focus Edition is shorter, taking just 2 hours and 15 minutes, compared to the traditional GMAT, which lasts 3 hours and 7 minutes.
- The Focus Edition places a greater emphasis on data analysis and critical reasoning, while the traditional GMAT offers a broader range of topics, including quantitative and verbal reasoning.
- The GMAT Focus Edition introduces a new scoring scale, ranging from 205 to 805, while the traditional GMAT scores range from 200 to 800.
- 75% of test-takers in 2024 have shown a preference for the GMAT Focus Edition, indicating a shift towards this new format.
Launched on November 7, 2023, the GMAT Focus Edition is the next-generation upgrade to the classic GMAT exam, designed to meet the evolving demands of business education and digital proficiency. With the classic GMAT set to retire on January 31, 2024, understanding the differences in scoring between these two versions is more important than ever.
In this blog, we'll break down the Detailed Score Charts for both the GMAT Focus Edition and the classic GMAT. So, whether you're deciding which test to take or just curious about how the scoring compares, we’ve got you covered.
The GMAT Score Scale: New Updates
If you're familiar with the previous version of the GMAT, the GMAT Exam (10th Edition), you’ll notice a key difference—the total score scale. For the GMAT 10th edition, these numbers ranged from 200 to 800. However, all the GMAT Focus Edition scores end in a 5, ranging from 205 to 805, making it easier to distinguish between the two exam editions.
The test scoring system is updated to better reflect the diverse range of scores from test-takers today. Over the years, scores have shifted significantly, resulting in an uneven distribution. The updated score scale fixes that. The new system will provide a more detailed view of test performance, making it fairer for everyone.
In addition to the score scale update, the following key changes distinguish the GMAT Exam (Focus Edition):
- The Total Score is now comprised of all 3 section scores - Before, your Total Score was only based on two sections: Quantitative and Verbal Reasoning. Now, the new total Score will be based on three sections: Quantitative, Verbal, and Data Insights.
- The scoring algorithm has been updated.
- The content areas and test constructs have been refined to narrow the scope to focus on data literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
- The new Question Review & Edit feature will have implications for testing behavior.
Percentile Rankings
The adjustments in the GMAT focus edition vs GMAT scale clearly reflect on the percentile rankings as well. These rankings show how your score compares to other test-takers.
For instance, if you’re in the 70th percentile, you scored better than 70% of candidates, while the remaining 30% outperformed you. This updated section-wise percentile table will help you understand where you stand relative to the current pool of GMAT test-takers.
Disclaimer: The direct comparisons of the GMAT focus edition vs GMAT aren’t that straightforward. A score that might have placed you in the 80th percentile on the traditional GMAT could translate differently on the Focus Edition scale.
Data Insights
Data Insights section is a new addition to the GMAT exam and is used to assess a candidate’s ability to analyze, interpret, and apply data to real-world scenarios.
It consists of 20 multiple-choice questions, to be completed in 45 minutes. The question types include Data Sufficiency, Multi-Source Reasoning, Table Analysis, Graphics Interpretation, and Two-Part Analysis. Data Insights scores range from 60 to 90, which is determined by several factors:
- The number of questions answered
- The accuracy of responses
- The difficulty level of the questions
Some questions may have multiple parts, and all parts must be answered correctly to receive credit for that question.
| Score | Percentile Ranking |
|---|---|
| 90 | 100% |
| 85 | 99% |
| 80 | 86% |
| 75 | 51% |
| 70 | 24% |
| 65 | 10% |
| 60 | 4% |
Verbal Reasoning
This section evaluates a candidate’s ability to read and understand written material, reason and evaluate arguments, and correct written material to conform to standard written English.
It comprises 36 multiple-choice questions to be completed in 65 minutes. The question types include Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning, and Sentence Correction.
Verbal Reasoning scores range from 6 to 51, which is determined based on the number of questions answered correctly, the difficulty level of those questions, and other statistical parameters.
| Score | Percentile Ranking |
|---|---|
| 90 | 100% |
| 85 | 96% |
| 80 | 60% |
| 75 | 19% |
| 70 | 4% |
| 65 | 1% |
| 60 | 0% |
Quantitative Reasoning
This section measures a candidate’s ability to reason quantitatively, solve quantitative problems, and interpret graphic data. It includes 31 multiple-choice questions to be completed in 62 minutes. The questions are of two types: Problem Solving and Data Sufficiency.
Quantitative Reasoning scores also range from 6 to 51 and are determined based on the number of correct responses, the difficulty of the questions answered, and the question's parameters. The impact of your Quantitative Reasoning performance on your GMAT focus edition vs GMAT is huge, especially if you’re aiming for a higher percentile.
| Score | Percentile Ranking |
|---|---|
| 90 | 100% |
| 85 | 89% |
| 80 | 66% |
| 75 | 35% |
| 70 | 14% |
| 65 | 4% |
| 60 | 1% |
Total Score
Your total GMAT Focus Edition score is an aggregate of the scores in the individual sections - Quant, Verbal, and Data Insights. This range scales from 205 to 805 with each section contributing equally to the total score and eventually the percentile ranking.
| Score | Percentile Ranking |
|---|---|
| 805 | 100% |
| 755 | 100% |
| 705 | 99% |
| 655 | 93% |
| 605 | 75% |
| 555 | 53% |
| 505 | 31% |
| 455 | 17% |
| 405 | 8% |
| 355 | 3% |
| 305 | 1% |
| 255 | 0% |
| 205 | 0% |
GMAT Focus Edition vs GMAT Concordance
As already mentioned above, the GMAT Focus total score ranges from 205 to 805. Earlier, this range (in GMAT 10th Edition) used to be 200 to 800. This seemingly minor change renders the direct comparison of the GMAT focus edition vs GMAT inaccurate and meaningless.
That's why when assessing your relative competitiveness, it’s better to compare your percentile rankings rather than the raw scores. This approach will give you a clearer picture of where you stand among other test-takers.
Below is the GMAT focus edition vs GMAT scale concordance table that will help you understand how the percentile distributions align between the two versions of the exam.
| GMAT (10th Edition) | GMAT Focus Edition | Percentile Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| 800 - 770 | 805 - 735 | 100% - 99.7% |
| 760 - 730 | 735 - 675 | 99.5% - 96.1% |
| 720 - 690 | 675 - 635 | 95.2% - 85.1% |
| 680 - 650 | 635 - 595 | 83.5% - 71.5% |
| 640 - 610 | 595 - 565 | 70.7% - 55.8% |
| 600 - 570 | 565 - 535 | 55.1% - 43.8% |
| 560 - 530 | 535 - 495 | 41.1% - 28.5% |
| 520 - 490 | 495 - 475 | 28.5% - 22.4% |
| 480 - 450 | 475 - 445 | 21.1% - 14.1% |
| 440 - 410 | 445 - 425 | 13.9% - 10.4% |
| 400 - 370 | 425 - 395 | 9.4% - 6.7% |
| 360 - 330 | 395 - 375 | 6.2% - 4.2% |
| 320 - 290 | 375 - 345 | 3.7% - 2.4% |
| 280 - 250 | 345 - 315 | 2.2% - 1.4% |
| 240 - 200 | 315 - 205 | 1.3% - 0.1% |
To make the most of this GMAT focus edition vs GMAT concordance table, translate your old GMAT score into its equivalent on the Focus Edition scale.
This will help you understand how your performance stacks up in the current testing landscape, ensuring you're accurately assessing your competitiveness based on the updated percentile rankings.
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Impact of GMAT Focus Edition Changes on MBA Applications
The transition from the GMAT 10th Edition to the Focus Edition has not only altered the exam score scale but also reshaped how scores are interpreted by admissions committees.
Here’s a closer look at the implication of these changes on your MBA applications, particularly w.r.t. the GMAT focus edition vs GMAT adjustments.
- Some schools are still recalibrating their admission criteria to the new scoring systems. This transition may give you more flexibility in choosing which exam to take for the time being.
- Admission committees are starting to place greater emphasis on percentile ranking than comparing raw GMAT focus edition vs GMAT.
- As GMAT scores often factor into business school rankings, the shift to the Focus Edition may temporarily impact how schools are ranked, and thus your list of “target” business schools.
For candidates, adapting to the Focus Edition early will demonstrate their adaptability and willingness to embrace changes – qualities highly valued in business leadership.
Utilize the above GMAT vs Focus Edition score concordance tables to benchmark your performance and accurately assess where you stand in the competition.
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Conclusion
The transition from the GMAT 10th Edition to the GMAT Focus Edition represents a significant shift in how scores are calculated and interpreted. With the new GMAT vs Focus Edition score scale adjustments, it's essential to understand how these changes reflect your performance and impact your MBA applications.
The GMAT vs Focus Edition score concordance tables provided in this guide offer valuable insights into how scores from the old and new editions correlate, helping you evaluate your position relative to other test-takers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I know if my GMAT Focus Edition score is competitive for MBA programs?
To gauge the competitiveness of your GMAT Focus Edition score, look at percentile rankings rather than just the raw score. Percentiles show how your score compares to other test-takers. For example, a score of 645 on the GMAT Focus Edition might place you in the same percentile as a 700 on the old GMAT.
Using the GMAT vs Focus Edition score concordance table can help you translate your performance into a meaningful context for MBA applications.
Should I be concerned about how MBA admissions committees will view my GMAT Focus Edition score?
While the GMAT Focus Edition is relatively new, MBA admissions committees are adapting quickly to the changes. In fact, they may place more weight on percentile rankings from the Focus Edition, which offers a clearer picture of your relative performance compared to other applicants. Familiarizing yourself with the new scoring system and how it compares to the traditional GMAT will help you better position your application.
